OAKLAND, Calif. — The Golden State Warriors had a superb Sunday on both ends of California.

Jason Richardson had 32 points and 12 rebounds, and the Warriors surged ahead in the race for the Western Conference’s final playoff spots with a 121-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Warriors (40-40) did it with one eye on the out-of-town scoreboard, where they watched the Clippers (39-41) fall out of their eighth-place tie with Golden State in a 105-100 loss to Sacramento.

The Warriors got back to .500 for the first time since mid-January with their seventh victory in eight games. They even moved into a seventh-place tie with the Lakers, who played later Sunday.

Al Harrington scored 18 points and Baron Davis had 17 for Golden State, which took a 20-point lead on the undermanned Timberwolves in the first half, then poured it with 20 consecutive points in the third quarter.

Ricky Davis scored 21 of his season-high 42 points in the meaningless fourth quarter of the Timberwolves’ fourth straight loss in Oakland. Kevin Garnett sat out again with a sore right quadriceps as Minnesota lost for the 21st time in 28 games since mid-February.

Though it seemed improbable just six weeks ago, the Warriors can end the NBA’s longest current streak of 12 seasons out of the playoffs with season-ending wins over Dallas and Portland. Golden State has won 14 of its last 19 games, surging back into the playoff race after even coach Don Nelson thought it was too late.

The Warriors haven’t even been above .500 since Jan. 7, when they were 18-17-and that was the first time they had been above .500 after Jan. 1 since the 1993-94 season. Golden State made its last playoff appearance that spring under Nelson, who returned last summer.

Richardson, who also had seven assists, scored 20 points in the first half and 12 more in the third quarter, hitting 11 of his 17 shots. His inside-out game was too much for Minnesota’s defenders, and he punctuated Golden State’s decisive third-quarter run with a thunderous dunk.

All 12 Warriors in uniform scored, and the crowd began a late chant of “Playoffs! Playoffs!” They were joined by Harrington and Stephen Jackson, who led the festivities from their seats on the bench.

Thousands of fans stayed behind after the final buzzer to watch the scoreboard for updates on the Kings’ win over the Clippers, chanting “Beat L.A.!” and erupting in applause at the final score.

Mark Blount, who started the season’s first 79 games for Minnesota, came off the Timberwolves’ bench against Golden State’s small lineup. Justin Reed and Craig Smith made just their third starts of the season with Minnesota focused mostly on evaluating its players for next season.

Minnesota has been cagy about Garnett’s status for its final week of games as the Timberwolves close out their first consecutive losing seasons since the 12-year veteran’s first two years in the NBA. Coach Randy Wittman said Garnett is doubtful for Monday’s game at Denver.

Notes:@ Minnesota G Marko Jaric missed his second straight game with injuries to both of his hands. G Troy Hudson didn’t travel to the game because of a sore left knee. … Even though the Oakland Athletics were hosting the New York Yankees next door, the Warriors nearly sold out Oracle Arena with 18,223 fans. … Golden State improved to 29-11 at home, mirroring its dismal 11-29 road record.

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